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Off-duty Boulder police officer arrested on DUI charge in Thornton

Officer Elizabeth Ward placed on administrative leave

By Mitchell Byars and Joe Rubino, Camera Staff Writers

Posted:
12/05/2012 04:37:07 PM MST

Updated:
12/06/2012 02:07:16 PM MST

Elizabeth Ward (Adams County Sheriff's Office)

CORRECTION: This story originally reported incorrectly which agency the off-duty police officer who reported Elizabeth Ward worked for. That officer was from the Arvada Police Department. Also, based on incorrect information from the Adams County Sheriff's Office, this story incorrectly reported that Ward was not booked into jail. She was booked.

An off-duty Boulder police officer was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Thornton early Tuesday morning after police say she had trouble keeping her vehicle in her lane and told an officer, "I'm drunk."

Officer Elizabeth Ward, 36, was driving northbound on Interstate 25 around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday when an off-duty Arvada police officer reported she was weaving between lanes and was driving 40 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to a police report. The off-duty officer called in to report Ward and then followed her.

By the time an on-duty Thornton officer reached Ward, she had pulled off the side of the road on her own, according to police. The off-duty officer -- who was still in uniform -- told the arriving officer that Ward was an off-duty officer with the Boulder Police Department. She was not armed, but did have ammunition and police gear in the trunk of her sedan.

When asked why she had pulled over, Ward said, "I'm drunk," and the officer noted an odor of alcohol and that Ward's speech was slurred and her eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to the report. When she exited the car to perform roadside a sobriety test, officers noted she had a hard time standing up and eventually declined to perform the maneuvers.

Thornton police took a sample of Ward's blood and issued her a county summons for weaving and DUI. She was then released into the custody of a Boulder police sergeant after being booked into jail, according to the report.

"We're aware of the investigation in Thornton," Kobel said Wednesday. "Any time an officer in Boulder faces a criminal charge, that initiates an internal investigation here at the police department and we have begun that investigation."

Kobel could not say when the internal investigation will be completed, but said the findings likely will be looked at by a review board that will then have the option to recommend discipline. The discipline, which must be approved by Chief Mark Beckner, could range from a verbal reprimand to termination, Kobel said.

Ward has been a patrol officer with the department since 2007, Kobel said.

Ward declined to comment on the case when reached by phone Wednesday at her home in Longmont.

It is unclear how the sergeant who picked Ward up was notified. Thornton police did not return calls for comment regarding their policy on releasing DUI suspects.

Boulder police do have a policy that says DUI suspects may be released into the custody of friend or family members after booking, Kobel said, but that decision is left up to the discretion of arresting officers.

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